Back again for the fourth year in a row, the highly popular Singapore HeritageFest 2007 (SHF 2007) is a key event on our cultural calendar. Happening 18 to 29 July at Suntec City Tropics Atrium and multiple venues around Singapore, the theme of this year’s celebration – “What’s Your Story?” – looks at getting everybody to think about the memories, stories, traditions and cultures that make us Singaporeans.
Last year’s extravaganza attracted more than 1.1 million participants. With so many things to see, do and experience, there are no reasons why this year’s event can’t match that. For newbies to heritage, I recommend you to check out the 10 things that you can do at the festival.
If you think country-themed loos are cool, wait till you check out the rest rooms at Labrador Park. They are not only aesthetically decorative but educational and insightful too! And the contents within the commodes are curated and contextually relevant to their location too. They are also sparkling clean which is unusual for outdoor-based toilets.
Now you can enrich and fill your mind while emptying err… something else…
Here’s the entrance to the men’s room, decorated with dragonflies and blades of grass.
One of Singapore’s hidden little treasure is this beautiful boutique attraction called the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Tucked away at Coleman Street just below the National Archives of Singapore and Registry of Marriages, the museum is probably one of the few indoor places where you can bring a young child and be entertained for hours.
I don’t normally plug my own events but I am making an exception this time around.
International Museum Day 2007 or IMD’07 was launched yesterday by MICA‘s Minister at the National Museum of Singapore. It is going to be a blast from the past with more than 80 activities across 24 museums for everybody! I am sure many of you would have seen the media coverage across all the dailies. Here are some highlights just to whet your appetites.
Indulge in a culinary adventure with HungryGoWhere‘s Eastern Surprise Food Trail, or dine amongst toys at the MINT Museum of Toys. Gain a fresh perspective of our history with Singapore’s first museum tours or embrace a whole day of Koreana – includling lip smacking kimchi – at the Singapore Philatelic Museum.
Keen to invest in art? Why not attend the Art Market talk at the Singapore Art Museum and hear from prominent gallery owners as they share their secrets on art collecting. Lovers of architecture and street scapes can attend various talks on heritage buildings and design at the Singapore City Gallery or go on a tour of the National Museum’s architectural highlights.
School holidays just around the corner? Don’t know what to do with your hyper-energetic kids? Well, for a start, you can learn about healthy living at HealthZone, have fun at the Water Wally colouring corner at the Newater Visitors Centre, or learn about various currencies around the world at the Singapore Discovery Centre.
Cultural explorers can choose their own adventures too. You can hop on free bus tours along six different routes, compete against the clock at Memories at Old Ford Factory and Reflections at Bukit Chandu in a Heritage C-Race (“Amazing Race” style), embark on the Great Changi Challenge at the Changi Museum, or walk the colourful and charming streets of Keong Saik Road from the Singapore City Gallery.
With so much to see, hear, taste, feel or do, there really is no excuse to stay home this weekend. Or over the next week or so.
Spotted this just outside my office at Armenian Street. I am so looking forward to its opening, just like I am really excited about attending the official opening of National Museum of Singapore tonight!
